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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (SIRFC) contributes to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of full-dimensional protection by improving the individual aircraft's probability of survival. In addition, the improved aircrew situational awareness offered by the synergistic effect of SIRFC with other attack aircraft sensors has the potential to contribute tactically to precision engagement, and could also contribute tactically to dominant maneuver. SIRFC is intended to be an integrated aircraft survivability system that provides defensive, offensive, active, and passive countermeasures to ensure optimum protection for the host aircraft. It will be placed on Army MH-60 and MH-47 helicopters, and is also planned for installation in the CV-22 and the U-2. SIRFC consists of three subsystems: the Advanced Threat Radar Jammer, the Advanced Threat Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and the Advanced Airborne Radio Frequency Expendables package. The system will be capable of operating in either an automatic or manual (command) mode. It provides warning (situational awareness), active jamming (self-protection), and when necessary expendable countermeasures to defeat threat radar guided weapon systems. Radar guided air defense artillery threat systems include surface to air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. A Southwest Asia theater of operations set in 2006 is the basis for threat selection for the EMD program. Future integration of SIRFC with the Suite of Integrated Infrared CounterMeasures in some aircraft (that may be equipped with both systems) is a program objective that optimizes multi-spectral threat countermeasures. Threat systems are not only those originating from within the Former Soviet Union, but also systems made and proliferated by the United States, our allies, and other weapons producers.

From this point on, when the name SIRFC is used, it will refer specifically to the jammer and radar warning receiver, which are the major sub-systems under this program's development. SIRFC entered Milestone (MS) I in FY90 with two prototype system deliveries in FY93. In addition to hardware in the loop (bench) testing, DEM/VAL testing was conducted at Eglin AFB in an EH-60 aircraft beginning in FY93. SIRFC entered MS II in 1QFY95 with an EMD contract to produce five production representative systems to support the T&E resource requirements through IOT&E. The lead aircraft for SIRFC integration and for IOT&E is the AH-64D Longbow/Apache. The Army recently reduced the priority of the Apache requirement for SIRFC, thereby eliminating SIRFC production funding from the Apache budget. The Army plans to proceed with IOT&E in the AH-64D, rather than restructure the development program schedule and funding. This decision is expected to minimize delays in SIRFC availability for integration and FOT&E in the MH-60, MH-47, CV-22, and U-2.

DOT&E approved the SIRFC TEMP in 1QFY98. AH-64D Apache airframe availability and technical problems in the EMD SIRFC system have delayed the program for at least six months. EMD deliveries will first support system and aircraft integration, and contractor and government DT.

Testing is designed to include bench, environmental, integration laboratory, installed system test facility, ground (open-air hardware in the loop "pole" testing) and flight-testing. OT continuous evaluation (CE) visibility into DT events is planned. Many CE events will continue as integrated OT/DT. Specific OT&E activity is planned to begin with an early user evaluation (EUE) flight test in FY99. After the system hardware and software has been judged to be production representative, the EUE is planned to lead to an Operational Test Readiness Review to approve the system for entry into an integrated OT/DT phase prior to entering dedicated IOT&E in 2QFY00. Flight-testing will include missions designed for direct effectiveness comparison of the SIRFC equipped AH64-D aircraft against an AH-64 aircraft equipped with the AN/APR-39A (v)1 RWR and the AN/ALQ-136(v)5 pulse Radar Jammer. MS III is currently planned for FY00. FOT&E is planned in each new aircraft type prior to fleet fielding.